Would-be Christmas House owner must serve more time in Hernando jail

BROOKSVILLE - Matt Senge, the former prospective buyer of Roger's Christmas House Village, learned Tuesday that he must serve the remainder of his probation for felony battery charges in the Hernando County Jail. Senge, 38, appeared at a hearing via video before Circuit Judge Donald Scaglione and was told that aside from the 160 days already served in connection with the crime he had another four to five months to go. He will then be extradited to Alabama for trial on a 2005 theft by deception charge. Senge was arrested Jan. 27 just two days before he was to buy the storied Christmas House from owner George Weiland Rogers. The property has since been placed back on the market. Senge is set to appear at a status hearing March 12 before Scaglione.